# Ripping on Windows

Make sure to download the latest version of [Exact Audio Copy](https://www.exactaudiocopy.de/en/index.php/resources/download).

!!! tip
	Skip to [**Ripping**](#ripping) if you already have everything setup and wish to skip to the ripping part of the guide.

!!! warning
	Opening any filesystem dialog from EAC when [WinFSP](http://secfs.net/winfsp) is installed will immediately crash the program [(#162)](https://github.com/billziss-gh/winfsp/issues/162). Either uninstall WinFSP or run [fix162.bat](https://github.com/billziss-gh/winfsp/blob/master/tools/fix162.bat) to solve the problem.

## **Setup**

The following should be done once when setting up the program.

### 1. Install

![](/assets/img/eac/1.png)

Uncheck the paid metadata plugin.

### 2. Launch

![](/assets/img/eac/2.png)

Cancel the setup wizard as we will configure  everything manually.

![](/assets/img/eac/3.png)

After inserting the most popular CD you own in the drive the AccurateRip dialog should appear. If it does not appear skip this step for now, otherwise proceed to configure AccurateRip, depending on the result you might need to insert multiple CDs and repeat this step.

### 3. EAC Options

![](/assets/img/eac/4.png)

Open EAC options...

![](/assets/img/eac/5.png)

![](/assets/img/eac/6.png)

![](/assets/img/eac/7.png)

![](/assets/img/eac/8.png)

Normalization should never be used as it irreversibly modifies the data, which guarantees an inaccurate rip. Non-destructive ReplayGain can be applied to the tracks after ripping instead.

![](/assets/img/eac/9.png)

The following track naming scheme is recommended for all rips. Do not include folder parts in the scheme as the generated cuesheet will get messed up.

![](/assets/img/eac/10.png)

Remove all replacement strings. Original titles are always available from the file tags anyway, replacing characters in filenames, especially with similar symbols, causes unnessecary confusion when performing file operations.

### 4. Drive Options

![](/assets/img/eac/11.png)

Open drive options...

![](/assets/img/eac/12.png)

![](/assets/img/eac/13.png)

Autodetect the read command.

![](/assets/img/eac/14.png)

If you failed to configure AccurateRip earlier in the guide find the offset for your drive from the [AccurateRip Drive Offsets](http://accuraterip.com/driveoffsets.htm) page and apply it as the read sample offset correction.

![](/assets/img/eac/15.png)

### 5. Compression Options

![](/assets/img/eac/16.png)

Open compression options...

![](/assets/img/eac/17.png)

Additional command-line options:<br>
`-8 -V -T "ARTIST=%artist%" -T "TITLE=%title%" -T "ALBUMARTIST=%albumartist%" -T "ALBUM=%albumtitle%" -T "YEAR=%year%" -T "DISCNUMBER=%cdnumber%" -T "DISCTOTAL=%totalcds%" -T "TRACKNUMBER=%tracknr%" -T "TRACKTOTAL=%numtracks%" %source% -o %dest%`

![](/assets/img/eac/18.png)

### 6. Metadata Options

![](/assets/img/eac/19.png)

Open metadata options...

![](/assets/img/eac/20.png)

Pick the CUETools DB Metadata Plugin and proceed to configure it. If you submit metadata and discids to MusicBrainz before ripping, pick the MusicBrainz Metadata Plugin instead.

![](/assets/img/eac/21.png)

Pick large cover search mode, otherwise it'll only find thumbnails.

![](/assets/img/eac/22.png)

Use any random email.

## **Ripping**

The following should be done for every rip.

!!! warning
	To rip a disc with a red first track (HTOA, hidden track) you must rip the CD by the guide first (with the addition of unselecting the red track), then test gaps on silence (`Action -> Test Gaps On Silence`) to see if the gap before the first track contains audio and after that proceed to range rip (`Action -> Copy Range -> Compressed...`) from block 0 to block `[start sector of first track] - 1`.

### 1. Prerip

![](/assets/img/eac/23.png)

After inserting a disc the following metadata should be properly filled out: CD Title, CD Artist, Year, Title, Artist, Number of CDs, CD Number.

### 2. Midrip

![](/assets/img/eac/24.png)

![](/assets/img/eac/25.png)

![](/assets/img/eac/26.png)

![](/assets/img/eac/27.png)

Make sure to pick a folder that won't leave any personal details in the path which will be added to the generated rip log. It's recommended for the folder name to simple and be consistent, for example `Album Artist - Album Title (Year) {Cat. No}`.

### 3. Postrip

* Check the rip log with a logchecker. <small>See&nbsp;[Ripping&nbsp;CDs&nbsp;Properly](.)</small>

* It's recommended to make scans of your physical release.

* It's recommended to add a good quality cover.


{{ pageinfo(authors="Salty", created="2021/10/04", updated="2021/10/09") }}

[^1]: <http://doujinstyle.com/eac/setup.html>
[^2]: <http://doujinstyle.com/eac/ripping.html>
